THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY May 31, 1943:
The largest force of American heavy 'bombers yet to fly from bases in
Britain heaped destruction on three targets over the weekend as the USAAF
and the RAF joined in their heaviest one-two blow to date on Nazi targets
in Europe. The American attacks rounded out the Eighth Air Force's biggest
month of operations.
The three targets of the record-breaking bomber force which took off from Eighth
Air Force stations Saturday were the U-boat bases of La Pallice and St.
Nazaire, on the Bay of Biscay, and Rennes, communications center through
which funnel much of the supplies bound for the submarine bases and yards on the
Biscay coast.
American Warplanes carried their offensive against Italy farther north
than ever before over the weekend, as Rome frankly admitted that an Allied
f invasion was expected "in a matter of days."
A force of nearly 100 Flying " Fortresses based in North. Africa
raided Leghorn, a seaport on Italy's west -coast, 160 miles northwest, of
Rome, inflicting great damage on docks, shipyards, railroad yards and a large oil
refinery, Allied headquarters announced.
Fighting on Attu island virtually ceased yesterday,
15 days after the American forces landed on the Aleutian island. Tokyo admitted
that the battle was over and the Navy Department declared that only snipers
were left alive after a violent battle in which the largest Jap force still resisting
on the island was annihilated.
Kiska, 170 miles from Attu, was attacked by Mitchells and Warhawks
Friday: Numerous hits were observed in the main camps area and runways. RGAF
pilots.
In the Southwest Pacific, Allied bombers of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's command
carried out the greatest number of sorties as yet conducted in the northwest
sector. Liberators flew 1,000 miles west of Australia to blast a Jap airdrome at
Lombok, near Bali.
THE STARS AND STRIPES
Daily Newspaper of U.S. Armed Forces in the European Theater of Operations
New York, N.Y.—London, England ' Monday, May 31, 1943
USAAF Batters U-Boat Bases in France
Libs and Forts Stage
Their Biggest Raid;
RAF Revisits Ruhr
Blows at St. Nazaire, La Pallice, Rennes End
Heaviest Month for 8th ,4ir Force;
U.S. Loses 13, RAF 23
The largest force of American heavy 'bombers yet to fly from bases in
Britain heaped destruction on three targets over the weekend as the USAAF
and the RAF joined in their heaviest one-two blow to date on Nazi targets
in Europe. The American attacks rounded out the Eighth Air Force's biggest
month of operations.
Short hours after Fortresses and Liberators ranged far over western France
late Saturday, RAF bombers "in very great strength"' attacked Wuppertal, an
area of concentrated industry just west of Essen in the battered Ruhr Valley.
1 Yesterday, lighter RAF forces kept up the assault, hammering steel works
in France and German coastal shipping. Three Luftwaffe fighter-bombers
were shot down during day raids in the south of England.
Two Sub Bases Hit
The three targets of the record-breaking bomber force which took off from Eighth
Air Force stations Saturday were the U-boat bases of La Pallice and St.
Nazaire, on the Bay of Biscay, and Rennes, communications center through
which funnel much of the supplies bound for the submarine bases and yards on the
Biscay coast.
Fortresses went to St. Nazaire and Rennes, and Liberators bombed the Uboat
yards and slips at La Pallice. Crews reported good visibility and direct hits
on all three target areas.
Thirteen American bombers were lost in the three attacks, while the RAF's
losses in the Wuppertal raid were 33.
U.S. Planes
Hit Seaport
Above Rome
Rome Admits It Expects
Invasion 'Any Day'
Islands Pounded
American Warplanes carried their offensive against Italy farther north
than ever before over the weekend, as Rome frankly admitted that an Allied
f invasion was expected "in a matter of days."
A force of nearly 100 Flying " Fortresses based in North. Africa
raided Leghorn, a seaport on Italy's west -coast, 160 miles northwest, of
Rome, inflicting great damage on docks, shipyards, railroad yards and a large oil
refinery, Allied headquarters announced.
The raid, first of the war on Leghorn, closed the gap between the areas vulnerable
from Britain in the north and Africa "in the south, and proved to the Italians
'that all of Italy now was within range of Allied bombers.
Meanwhile other Allied planes kept up the incessant pounding of Italy's invasion
outposts—the islands of Sicily, Sardinia and Pantellaria.
Jap Attu Force
Is Annihilated
Only Snipers Still Fight,
Enemy Losses High,
Navy Declares
WASHINGTON, May 30—Fighting on Attu island virtually ceased yesterday,
15 days after the American forces landed on the Aleutian island. Tokyo admitted
that the battle was over and the Navy Department declared that only snipers
were left alive after a violent battle in which the largest Jap force still resisting
on the island was annihilated.
Japanese casualties were high, the Navy report said, and the final battle was fought
on ridges about the cloud level. The Jap's version of the battle said that
Jap forces committed suicide in preference
to becoming prisoners. Bad weather, apparently fog and rain, settled on
Attu again, ending all air support for the Americans.
Kiska Bombed Again
Kiska, 170 miles from Attu, was attacked by Mitchells and Warhawks
Friday: Numerous hits were observed in the main camps area and runways. RGAF
pilots, manning .Warhawks, took part in the attack, the Navy Department said.
In the Southwest Pacific, Allied bombers of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's command
carried out the greatest number of sorties as yet conducted in the northwest
sector. Liberators flew 1,000 miles west of Australia to blast a Jap airdrome at
Lombok, near Bali.
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